Piling clamp

ABSTRACT

A piling clamp means is disclosed herein which is adapted to be used in combination with a piling pulling apparatus such as a vibrating hammer suspended from the hoist line of a crane. The clamp means comprises a pair of hydraulically operated jaw members which may be moved into gripping engagement with the piling being pulled. The clamp means is suspended from a cable means connected to the vibrating hammer and the crane whip line to enable the clamp means to be moved from a position remote of the piling being pulled to a position adjacent the piling being pulled so that the jaw members may grip the same.

United States Patent [191 Giroux ].June 11, 1974 PILING CLAMP [76]Inventor: Davis W. Giroux, 3 Lakewood.

Council Bluffs, Iowa 51501 22 Filed: June 7,1972

211 App]. No.: 260,419

[52] U.S. Cl 61/535, 173/91, 214/658, 279/4, 294/88 [51] Int. Cl E02d7/00 [58] Field of Search 173/49, 1, 91; 61/535, 61/63; 294/88, 81 R;214/658, 215; 269/25;

279/4; 24/263 HW, 249 HA [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS1,674,144 6/1928 Traves 294/88 X 1,879,993 /1932 Salmon... 61/5352,789,716 4/1957 Wolf 214/658 3,391,435 7/1968 Lebelle 279/4 X PrimaryExaminerl-lenry C. Sutherland Assistant Examiner-William F. Pate, IllAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Zarley, McKee & Thomte [57] ABSTRACT A pilingclamp means is disclosed herein which is adapted to be used incombination with a piling pulling apparatus such as a vibrating hammersuspended from the hoist line of a crane. The clamp means comprises apair of hydraulically operated jaw members which may be moved intogripping engagement with the piling being pulled. The clamp means issuspended from a cable means connected to the vibrating hammer and thecrane whip line to enable the clamp means to be moved from a positionremote of the pi]- ing being pulled to a position adjacent the pilingbeing pulled so that the jaw members may grip the same.

10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PILING CLAMP The conventional method ofhandling sheet piling or the like as it is being removed from the groundby a vibrating hammer is to cut a hole in the sheet piling and attach awhip line from the crane therethrough. The vibrating hammer thenvibrates the piling upwardly from the ground and the whip line is thenused to lower the piling onto the ground. Such a method is timeconsuming and damages the sheet piling since the hole is cut in thepiling with a cutting torch or the like. The pilings are ordinarily usedagain and the holes must be covered with a plate or the like weldedthereto. A further disadvantage in the conventional method is that themethod requires a man to hook the whip line to the sheets and a man tounhook the sheets from the whip line. i

Thus, it is a principal object of this invention to provide a pilingclamp.

A further object of this invention is to provide a piling clamp whichmay be used in combination with a vibro hammer.

A further object of this invention is to provide a piling clamp which issupported by cables and which is A further object of this invention isto provide a piling clamp which may be adapted to handle various pilingconfigurations.

A further object of this invention is to provide a piling clamp which iseasily operated.

A further object of this invention is to provide a piling clamp which iseconomical of manufacture, durable in use and refined in appearance.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements, andcombination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objectscontemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth,specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a piling clamp:

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the piling clamp, the broken linesindicating the movement of one of the jaw members:

FIG. 3 is a sectional view seen along lines 33 of FIG. 2:

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the piling clamp being used incombination with a vibrating hammer:

FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating the piling clamp being used incombination with a vibrating hammer:

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 except that the piling clamp has beenlowered into engagement with the piling; and

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIGS. 5 and 6 except that the piling clampis shown to be supporting the removed piling.

In the drawings, the numeral 10 generally refers to the piling clamp ofthis invention while the numeral 12 refers to a conventional vibratinghammer or vibro hammer as it is sometimes called. The numeral 14 refersto a piling of conventional design.

The vibrating hammer 12 is supported on its axis by a hoist line 16extending from a conventional crane. The hammer 12 has a jaw means 18which is adapted to clamp onto the piling 14 as illustrated in thedrawings. The hammer l2 imposes vibratory motion to the easily loweredinto gripping engagement with the pilpiling 14 so as to force the sameinto the ground during the placement process. The hammer 12 is also usedto pull the piling 14 from the ground through its vibratory action.

Clamp 10 includes a tube 20 which is slidably received by the tube 22 inthe manner illustrated in the drawings. A jaw 24 extends outwardly fromtube 20 and a jaw 26 extends outwardly from tube 22. The jaws 24 and 26will have various configurations depending upon the particular type ofpiling being pulled. Tube 20 has a pair of registering slots 28 and 30formed therein as seen in FIG. 3 which receive a pin 32. Pin 32 issecured to the rod 34 of hydraulic cylinder 36 which is positioned inthe interior of the tubes 20 and 22. Tube 22 has a pair of registeringholes 38 and 40 formed therein which receive a pin 42. Pin 42 is securedto the base end of the hydraulic cylinder 36 as illustrated in FIG. 3. Apair of hydraulic hoses 44 and 46 are connected to the hydrauliccylinder 36 and extend outwardly through suitable slots formed in thetubes 20 and 22. A pair of ears 48 and a pair of ears 50 are secured tothe outer ends of tubes 22 and 20 respectively and have sheaves orpulleys 52 and 54 mounted thereon respectively. The hydraulic hoses 44and 46 are connected to a suitable hydraulic system remote of the clamp10.

A cable 56 is'connected at one of its ends to the hammer 12 asillustrated in FIG. 4 and extends through the sheave 52 and thenceupwardly through the sheaves 58 and 60 provided on the hammer. A cable62 is also secured to the hammer 12 in a spaced apart relationship tothe cable 56 and extends through the sheave 54 thence upwardly throughthe sheaves 64 and 66 secured to the hammer 12 as illustrated in FIG. 4.Cables 56 and 62 are secured to a connector or headache ball 68 which issupported by the crane whip line 70. Cables 56 and 62 may be a singlecable if desired with the apex of the single cable secured to the ball68. A pair of stop elements 72 and 74 are provided on the cables 56 and62 respectively and are adapted to engage the sheaves 52 and 54respectively so that the clamp 10 will be moved away from the piling 14as the whip line is moved upwardly with respect to the hammer 12. Thus,upward movement of the whip line 70 with respect to the hammer 12 causesthe clamp 10 to be moved to the position illustrated in FIG. 5. Downwardmovement of the whip line 70 with respect to the hammer 12 causes theclamp 10 to be moved from the position illustrated in FIG. 5 to aposition adjacent the piling 14 as illustrated in FIG. 6. The clamp 10is automatically moved adjacent the piling 14 as the whip line 70 islowered through the various cable or line and sheave arrangementspreviously described.

The normal method of operation is as follows. FIG. 5 illustrates thepiling 14 in position and about to be pulled by the hammer 12. The clamp10 has been moved to its inoperative position so as not to interferewith the attachment of the hammer 12 to the upper end of the piling 14.The hammer 12 is lowered onto the upper end of the piling 14 by thehoist line 16 and the jaw means 18 is then clamped thereon. The hammer12 is then operated to impose vibratory action into the piling 14 andupward tension is applied thereto by the hoist line 16 to move thepiling l4 upwardly from the ground. The whip line 70 is then lowered bythe crane operator to cause the clamp 10 to move from the position ofFIG. 5 to the position of FIG. 6. The hydraulic cylinder 36 would havebeen previously activated so as to separate the jaws 24 and 26 as far aspossible. The jaws 24 and 26 receive the piling 14 therebetween as theclamp is placed adjacent thereto. The hydraulic cylinder 36 is thenactivated by the hammer operator so as to securely clamp the jaws 24 and26 onto the piling 14.

The hammer is operated until the piling is completely removed from theground. When the piling 14 has been removed from the ground, the jawmeans 18 on the hammer 12 is released from the piling 14 and the piling14 is then solely supported by the clamp 10 as illustrated in FIG. 5.The crane operator would then maneuver the hammer 12 to lower the piling14 onto the ground in the proper position. With the piling M in theproper position on the ground, the hydraulic cylinder 36 is thenactivated to cause the separation of the jaws 24 and 26 so as to releasethe piling I4 therefrom. The hammer and the clamp are then moved intoposition so as to remove the next piling.

Thus it can be seen that an extremely simple but efficient clamp hasbeen provided for use with a piling pulling apparatus such as a vibrohammer or vibrating hammer which eliminates the necessity ofcutting'holes in the piling 14 as was the case before the instantinvention. The clamp of this invention has also eliminated the need of acertain amount of man power and speeds up the entire operation. It is nolonger necessary to station a man in a boat to attach the whip line tothe piling as was common heretofore when piling was being pulled fromcofferdams or the like and the old method was being employed. I

It is recommended that a pilot check valve be provided in the hydraulichoses 44 and 46 to prevent the separation of the jaws 24 and 26 in theevent of failure of the hydraulic circuitry. Such a feature preventsaccidental dropping of the piling 14. The slots 28 and 30 are providedto permit the cylinder rod to move slightly without moving the tubes soas to release-a mechanical brake within the device if one is soemployed.

Thus it can be seen that the clamp of this invention accomplishes atleast all of its stated objectives.

I claim:

1. In combination with a piling pulling apparatus suspended from thehoist line of a crane comprising,

a piling clamp means operatively secured to thecrane and being movablefrom a first position remote from the piling being pulled to a secondposition adjacent said piling being pulled by the piling pullingapparatus,

said piling clamp means including means for gripping the piling beingpulled,

said means for gripping the piling being pulled comprising a pair ofhydraulically operated jaw member,

first and second sheave members being operatively connected to said pairof jaw members, a first cable means secured at one end to said pilingpulling apparatus and extending through said first sheave member, asecond cable means secured at one end to said piling pulling apparatusand extending through said second sheave member, said first and secondcables being secured at their other'ends to a third cable means providedon the crane.

2, The combination of claim I wherein said first and second cable meanseach have means thereon which engage said first and second sheavemembers respectively to move said clamp means to said first positionwhen said third cable means is raised with respect to said pilingpulling apparatus.

.3. In combination with a piling pulling apparatus suspended from thehoist line of a crane comprising.

a piling clamp means operatively secured to the crane and being movablefrom a first position remote from the piling being pulled to a secondposition adjacent said piling being pulled by the piling pullingapparatus,

said piling clamp means including means for gripping the piling beingpulled,

said means for gripping the piling being pulled comprising a pair ofhydraulically operated jaw member,

first and second cable receiving members being operatively connected tosaid pair of jaw members, a first cable means secured at one end to saidpulling apparatus and extending through said first cable receivingmember, a second cable means secured at one end to said piling pullingapparatus and extending through said second cable receiving member,

said first and second cables being secured at their other ends to athird cable means provided on the crane.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said first and second cable meanseach have means thereon which engage said first and second cablereceiving members respectively to move said clamp means to said firstposition when said third cable means is raised with respect 7 to saidpiling pulling apparatus.

5. In combination with a piling pulling apparatus suspended from thehoist line of a crane, said piling pulling apparatus having a firstpiling clamp means thereon for gripping the upper end of the pilingbeing pulled, comprising, 4 j g i a second piling clamp means secured tothe crane and being movable from a first position remote from the pilingbeing gripped by said first piling clamp means to a second positionadjacent said piling being gripped by said first piling clamp means,

said second piling clamp means including hydraulically operated meansfor gripping the piling being pulled.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said second piling clamp means ispositioned below said first piling clamp means when in its said secondposition.

7. The combination of claim 5 wherein said piling pulling apparatus is avibrating hammer means.

8. The combination of claim 5 wherein a cable meanssupports said clampmeans, said cable means being operatively movably secured to said pilingpulling apparatus for guiding said clamp means into its grippingposition.

9. In combination with a piling pulling apparatus suspended from thehoist line of a crane, said piling pulling apparatus having a firstpiling clamp means thereon for gripping the upper end of the pilingbeing pulled, comprising, v

a second piling clamp means secured to the crane and being movable froma first position remote from the piling being gripped by said firstpilingclamp means to a second position adjacent said piling beinggripped by said first piling clamp means,

suspended from the hoist line of a crane, said pilingpulling apparatushaving a first piling clamp means thereon for gripping the upper end ofthe piling being pulled, comprising,

a second piling clamp means secured to the crane and being movable froma first position remote from the piling being gripped by said firstpiling clamp means to a second position adjacent said piling beinggripped by said first piling clamp means,

said second piling clamp means including hydraulically operated meansfor gripping the piling being pulled,

said means for gripping the piling being pulled comprises a pair ofopposing jaw members, a hydraulic cylinder means connecting said jawmembers for moving one of said jaw members towards and away from theother jaw member, said clamp means having guide means operativelyinterconnecting said jaw members.

1. In combination with a piling pulling apparatus suspended from thehoist line of a crane comprising, a piling clamp means operativelysecured to the crane and being movable from a first position remote fromthe piling being pulled to a second position adjacent said piling beingpulled by the piling pulling apparatus, said piling clamp meansincluding means for gripping the piling being pulled, said means forgripping the piling being pulled comprising a pair of hydraulicallyoperated jaw member, first and second sheave members being operativelyconnected to said pair of jaw members, a first cable means secured atone end to said piling pulling apparatus and extending through saidfirst sheave member, a second cable means secured at one end to saidpiling pulling apparatus and extending through said second sheavemember, said first and second cables being secured at their other endsto a third cable means provided on the crane.
 2. The combination ofclaim 1 wherein said first and second cable means each have meansthereon which engage said first and second sheave members respectivelyto move said clamp means to said first position when said third cablemeans is raised with respect to said piling pulling apparatus.
 3. Incombination with a piling pulling apparatus suspended from the hoistline of a crane comprising, a piling clamp means operatively secured tothe crane and being movable from a first position remote from the pilingbeing pulled to a second position adjacent said piling being pulled bythe piling pulling apparatus, said piling clamp means including meansfor gripping the piling being pulled, said means for gripping the pilingbeing pulled comprising a pair of hydraulically operated jaw member,first and second cable receiving members being operatively connected tosaid pair of jaw members, a first cable means secured at one end to saidpulling apparatus and extending through said first cable receivingmember, a second cable means secured at one end to said Piling pullingapparatus and extending through said second cable receiving member, saidfirst and second cables being secured at their other ends to a thirdcable means provided on the crane.
 4. The combination of claim 3 whereinsaid first and second cable means each have means thereon which engagesaid first and second cable receiving members respectively to move saidclamp means to said first position when said third cable means is raisedwith respect to said piling pulling apparatus.
 5. In combination with apiling pulling apparatus suspended from the hoist line of a crane, saidpiling pulling apparatus having a first piling clamp means thereon forgripping the upper end of the piling being pulled, comprising, a secondpiling clamp means secured to the crane and being movable from a firstposition remote from the piling being gripped by said first piling clampmeans to a second position adjacent said piling being gripped by saidfirst piling clamp means, said second piling clamp means includinghydraulically operated means for gripping the piling being pulled. 6.The combination of claim 5 wherein said second piling clamp means ispositioned below said first piling clamp means when in its said secondposition.
 7. The combination of claim 5 wherein said piling pullingapparatus is a vibrating hammer means.
 8. The combination of claim 5wherein a cable means supports said clamp means, said cable means beingoperatively movably secured to said piling pulling apparatus for guidingsaid clamp means into its gripping position.
 9. In combination with apiling pulling apparatus suspended from the hoist line of a crane, saidpiling pulling apparatus having a first piling clamp means thereon forgripping the upper end of the piling being pulled, comprising, a secondpiling clamp means secured to the crane and being movable from a firstposition remote from the piling being gripped by said first piling clampmeans to a second position adjacent said piling being gripped by saidfirst piling clamp means, said second piling clamp means includinghydraulically operated means for gripping the piling being pulled, saidmeans for gripping the piling being pulled comprises a first tubeslidably received by a second tube, first and second jaw members securedto and extending laterally from said first and second tubesrespectively, and a hydraulic cylinder means secured to and extendingbetween said first and second tubes for moving at least one of said jawmembers towards and away from the other.
 10. In combination with apiling pulling apparatus suspended from the hoist line of a crane, saidpiling pulling apparatus having a first piling clamp means thereon forgripping the upper end of the piling being pulled, comprising, a secondpiling clamp means secured to the crane and being movable from a firstposition remote from the piling being gripped by said first piling clampmeans to a second position adjacent said piling being gripped by saidfirst piling clamp means, said second piling clamp means includinghydraulically operated means for gripping the piling being pulled, saidmeans for gripping the piling being pulled comprises a pair of opposingjaw members, a hydraulic cylinder means connecting said jaw members formoving one of said jaw members towards and away from the other jawmember, said clamp means having guide means operatively interconnectingsaid jaw members.